Odds of State Appeals Clerkship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all, what are my odds at landing a state appellate clerkship located in my law school home state (a flyover midwestern state) when I have the following credentials:

-T2 law grad, grades just below median
-No law review exp., but won my school's moot court competition
-mostly all public interest exp. - got an overseas legal fellowship in a few different countries one semester, interned at a few legal NGOs domestically, did clinic work
-a few other scattered credentials - international legal honor society member, executive board member and leader of some law school orgs., a leadership-based scholarship, etc.

I know my class rank and and law school rank will significantly work against me, but I'm wondering I have any chance of overcoming them. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

did you go to school in this state?

[objctnyrhnr]

Hi all, what are my odds at landing a state appellate clerkship located in my law school home state (a flyover midwestern state) when I have the following credentials:

-T2 law grad, grades just below median
-No law review exp., but won my school's moot court competition
-mostly all public interest exp. - got an overseas legal fellowship in a few different countries one semester, interned at a few legal NGOs domestically, did clinic work
-a few other scattered credentials - international legal honor society member, executive board member and leader of some law school orgs., a leadership-based scholarship, etc.

I know my class rank and and law school rank will significantly work against me, but I'm wondering I have any chance of overcoming them. Thanks!

They aren’t awesome. If you have your heart set in this, you might want to clerk at a state trial court somewhere. Apply to every state’s trial court clerkship, do one, then give it a go.

[deadpanic]

did you go to school in this state?

This is important. T2 is really not a burden to a state appeals clerkship if it is something like the state flagship school.

I think you would be more competitive for a state trial court clerkship, especially since most of your strong experience seems to be "trial" work. Appellate work is much more research & writing, which is not really reflected in your credentials/resume.

Best of luck.